Canmoore

Observe November the 11th however you may. But please keep the sacrifice of all the soldiers, sailors and airmen in your heart and mind on this day.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Lt.Col John McCrae

mike nickeas

I agree hence the change of Avatar and signature.

No matter your religion, colour, creed, class etc. we should all pay respects for those who either fell or were wounded to give us a better tomorrow.

Mike.

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texacali

Amen. In today's world, "Never have so many owed so much to so few".

smilingassassin

Agreed. My bigest regret is not being able to talk with my Grandfather about his experiences at Dieppe. He told my uncle he never made it to the beach, however his unit was one of the first to land. Its possible his landing craft was thrown off cource by the night engagement with German patrols in the early morning hours.

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-- Larry Elder

mike nickeas

Dieppe was a disgrace, some say some good lessons were learnt as a result especially with D-Day in mind, technologies and tactics were tried, but as a whole the raid was tragic.

ChrisF202

God bless our veterans! A nation can never thank them enough.

Unfortunately in the US, Veterans Day and Memorial Day are now more about shopping discounts and going to the beach and getting so wasted you cant even walk then it is about honoring those who served and those who died while serving

Southie

Every year our school recognizes those that have served in the military and are teaching/working at the school. We also have a flag ceremony to honor those military members that died for our country.

A couple years ago one of our previous students was killed in Iraq. His parents attended the service where they were presented with a flag and a bugler played taps. Very moving!!

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Canmoore

I actually have a tread up about Dieppe. Apparently the entire raid was just to test German Radar... a complete waste of men.


That is a disgrace. I have how stores are more inclined to start there Christmas shopping sales, and advertisements rather than at the very least wait until after November 11 to begin the feeding frenzy.

texacali

Those fallen heroes must feel sorrow for us and our children that have lost the faith.

ghost88

A toast:
To those who've gone before us.

Desdemona

We sang America, The Beautiful in Church at this morning's mass! All of the song, not just the first refrain.

It wasn't the loudest and it was off key but it was a splendid way to remember Veteran's Day. I couldn't get the U Tube to plug and play but here is a soldier's page that features Ray Charles singing America, The Beautiful with some nice images. YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

Besides my father and a host of relatives- in order to honor the men and women who have served in the past and those currently serving our country presently, I can only say "Thank You."


America, The Beautiful Lyrics
by Katharine Lee Bates - 1913


O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet,
Whose stern impassion'd stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America! God mend thine ev'ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved,
And mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness,
And ev'ry gain divine!

O Beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam,
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

dave lukins

A great rendition from one of the very best. I bet he's got them dancing wherever he is now

Canmoore

I went to the Remembrance Day ceremony at the war memorial in my town. A parade from town hall down main street to the war memorial which included the local legion members, HMCS Lanark sea cadets and there band, the Knights of Columbus, Serving members of the CF, RCMP and OPP officers, Veterans, scouts, cubs, beavers, girl guides, brownies and sparks.

A lot of people showed up, it was a beautiful morning clear and crisp with blue skies. The ceremony included readings from the scripture, reading of Flanders fields and other poems, speeches, and the reading of the men from my town who had fallen in WW1, WW2 and Korea. Plus all of the groups I already mentioned laid wreaths, plus the silver cross mother, and other people who wished to place wreaths and poppies at the memorial.

The moment of silence was marked by a shot from a 155mm howitzer. Then ended with another shot from the gun.

It was a great ceremony, I was glad to see so many people take the time to show up and stay for the entire ceremony even though it was nearly 45 minutes long.

After wards I watched about three programs on the history channel's week of remembrance. Including a special on Vimy Ridge... eventually I fell asleep watching a National Geographic documentary on Gorillas.